JH97: Stories that Challenge the Faith with Janet Benge

Have you ever read a story that just challenges your faith? That is what the stories from author Janet Benge have done for me and my homeschool. In this podcast interview, we are chatting faith, missions, good books and so much more.

As you may know, podcasting takes a lot of time. I typically mass record 3 months’ worth of episodes in one month. This gives time for editing, show notes to be written, and for me to record introductions beforehand and solo episodes. Therefore, this episode will of course not address the current COVID19 pandemic. It may also reference homeschool conventions or other events that are now closed. I apologize in advance, however, the content and advice given in the episode is something we can all learn from regardless of the time it was recorded.

Today I am airing a bucket list podcast interview with the authors of our favorite book series!!! I first began reading the Christian Heroes Then and Now series from Geoff and Janet Benge with my kids because my firstborn was feeling led into missions. She came across their book on Amy Carmichael and the rest was history. We have now read TONS of them. Last year we focused on world history and read missionary stories from the different continents we were studying with c0-op and this year, we are paring them with our US history study and going along with what the kids are learning with Notgrass History. We LOVE these books, and I was so excited to chat with Janet Benge for the podcast.

Janet Benge, along with her husband Geoff, is the author of the book series Christian Heroes: Then and Now and Heroes of History. She also developed and wrote curriculum unit study guides to go with many of the books. Combined there are over eight million copies of these books in print in 25 languages. The Benges, originally from New Zealand, served for ten years as missionaries with Youth With A Mission in the Philippines, Tonga, Hawaii, Texas, Montana, and on the Makah Indian Reservation in Washington State. Along the way they raised two daughters and an adopted a son, a former street boy from the Philippines. Janet, a trained elementary school teacher, watched over and participated in the children’s schooling in many and varied ways. For the past 22 years of their 33-year-book-writing career, Janet and her husband have immersed themselves in writing inspiring stories for middle and high school grade children, which they are aware a large number of adults also read! The Benges live in Central Florida, where their two married daughters also reside. They have three young grandchildren, their oldest, a five-year-old grandson, has Down Syndrome. You can find out more about Janet and Geoff Benge at BengeBooks.com.

Here are some of the questions we will be going over:

I heard on another podcast that you had dyslexia. My son is dyslexic, how did this impact you in your academic and professional career?
Where do you get the research needed to write your books? How do you decide what stories to tell?
These books have been known to challenge my faith and the faith of my children. Was this the original plan when you began writing the books?
My middle wanted to know if you have any books about people that minister through animals?

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Have you ever read a story that just challenges your faith? That is what the stories from author Janet Benge have done for me and my homeschool. In this podcast interview, we are chatting faith, missions, good books and so much more.

Here are some of the questions we will be going over:

Disclosure: